Headlines - 24.08.2017

• PAN without an agreement, calls for all-inclusive government (media)
• Pacolli denies media reports about meeting with Veseli and Haradinaj (media)
• Two foreigners arrested in Kosovo (media)
• Serbian media: Daut Haradinaj, first to be indicted by Special Court (Kosova Sot)
• Vucic and Zaev agree to overcome crisis (RTK)

PAN without an agreement, calls for all-inclusive government (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that the PDK-AAK-NISMA (PAN) coalition will again have a problem to secure enough votes at today’s session of the Kosovo Assembly. PAN representatives said that unlike the earlier sessions, they will try to attend the session today but said it “was likely” that their candidate for Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, would not get the required number of votes. PAN’s candidate for Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, told a press conference in Pristina on Wednesday: “we are trying to attend the session tomorrow, but there is a real possibility that we will not start tomorrow either”. Haradinaj also talked about what he called “all-inclusive” government, because according to him, it will not be difficult for PAN to secure the required 61 votes. Haradinaj made these remarks on the same day that New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) senior officials indicated they would not support PAN’s candidate for Assembly President. AKR deputy leader, Agim Bahtiri, posted on Facebook on Wednesday saying that his party would under no condition join PAN. Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said on Wednesday that his party’s coalition with the AKR and Alternativa is strong from the beginning. Mustafa also said that the LDK would continue its cooperation with AKR and Alternative even for the upcoming local elections. Under the leading front-page headline A session without numbers, Zeri reports that today’s session of the Kosovo Assembly will most probably fail, as AKR MPs are insisting that they will not vote in favor of PAN’s candidates for Assembly President and Prime Minister. In a different article on the front page, the paper quotes AKR organizational secretary, Rrahim Pacolli, as saying that his party will not support PAN in forming the new institutions, “because we will remain faithful to our coalition with the LDK”. Pacolli also said he would support an eventual agreement between the LDK and the Vetevendosje Movement. Bota Sot reports on its front page that “AKR has killed the hopes of the PAN coalition, by saying that they will not vote in favor of Veseli” and that as a result PAN “is afraid” to attend today’s assembly session. In another front-page article, the paper quotes political analysts as saying that an agreement between the LDK and Vetevendosje is key to unblocking the political stalemate. Gazeta Express quotes PDK deputy leader, Memli Krasniqi, said PDK MPs will attend the assembly session. NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj told reporters too on Wednesday that PAN MPs will attend.

Pacolli denies media reports about meeting with Veseli and Haradinaj (media)

Several news websites reported on Wednesday evening about a meeting between PDK leader Kadri Veseli, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj and AKR leader Behxhet Pacolli. The meeting focused on finding a coalition government agreement and paving way to Veseli’s election as Assembly President and the formation of a Haradinaj-led government. No results were announced from the meeting. Pacolli however took to Facebook to write that “some were only speculating” and that he has just come from a family celebration.

Two foreigners arrested in Kosovo (media)

Citing a report broadcast by the Radio Television of Kosovo, several media report that Kosovo Police arrested on Wednesday “two pro-Russian foreigners who were staying in Kosovo and making propaganda against Albanians and the Republic of Kosovo”. Kosovo Police did not issue any official communique about the arrests. Serbian media meanwhile reported that the two arrested persons are Russian reporters and that the reasons behind their arrest are unknown. Bota Sot has published the names of those arrested.

Serbian media: Daut Haradinaj, first to be indicted by Special Court (Kosova Sot)

Citing a report broadcast in Serbian media, the paper reports on page two that Daut Haradinaj, a senior member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), could be the first person indicted by the special court that will address war crimes allegations in Kosovo. Citing unidentified foreign diplomats in Pristina, Belgrade-based Blic newspaper reported that AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci will be summoned as witnesses against Daut Haradinaj.

Vucic and Zaev agree to overcome crisis (RTK)

After Serbia’s evacuation of its belongings from its embassy in Skopje, and Belgrade accused its neighboring country for “offensive intelligence attacks”, leaders of the two states declared peace today. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic and FYROM’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev have acknowledged that they had a “long and open” telephone conversation which resulted with agreement in five points. The first one stipulates that two sides would resolve possible disagreements through the dialogue. This new development was confirmed by Vucic’s cabinet. The European Union expressed hope that the two countries would find a peaceful solution on their contesting matters.